4 interesting robots made in India

While countries around the world are extensively experimenting with robotics, India is still lagging behind. Despite the fact that robotic development and research hasn’t really picked in the country, there have been some projects that are definitely noteworthy.

Dataquest takes a look at four interesting robots developed and made in India:

1. Manav

India's First 3D Printed Humanoid Robot, Manav, stands about two-feet tall, weighs 2 kgs, and is powered by 21 servos. With two cameras in its eye sockets and two mikes on either side of its head, Manav has in-built vision and sound processing capability, enabling it to talk and act exactly like a human. The robot can perform tasks like walking, talking and dancing, without the help of a laptop, just in response to human commands. It can also perform activities like headstands, push-ups, and can also play football.

Developed by Diwakar Vaish, Head of Robotics and Research at A-SET Training and Research Institute in New Delhi, the robot was unveiled at Techfest at IIT Bombay held in January.

Primarily meant for research purposes, Manav is priced at Rs 1.5 and 2.5 lakh (much lesser price as compared to other commercial robots available in India) and is targeted at educational institutions that offer robotics as a subject.

2. Daksh

 Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Daksh is a remotely controlled robot for locating and recovering improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Indigenously designed and developed, the robot can used for locating, handling and destroying hazardous objects safely.

Using its X-ray vision, Daksh can identify a hazardous material and diffuse it with a jet of water. Daksh can be operated from a distance of 2.5 km and is capable of climbing staircases and negotiating cross-country terrains. It can also handle car explosives with its high-calibre shotgun, with which it can blast the door locks and break the windshield. In addition, Daksh is capable of towing a suspected vehicle away from a crowded area. According to reports, 20 Daksh robots are already being used in the Indian Army.

3. AcYut

Developed by the students of BITS Pilani, AcYut, which means ‘The One Who Never Falls’ or ‘the Imperishable’ in Sanskrit is India’s first humanoid. Currently in sixth prototype, the team is being supported by Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.

While the first prototype of the robot could walk, fight and dance, the sixth prototype is able to play soccer. Acyut 6 also participated at RoboCup Iran Open 2013 and RoboCup 2013 at Netherlands, and was also one of the three teams that scored goals in the matches. Its third prototype had won a Kung-Fu match at RoboGames in 2009.

4. Kraken 3.0

A team of about 20 undergraduate students from IIT Kharagpur have developed Kraken 3.0, an  autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), which is more intelligent than drones and can perform assigned tasks under water like searching for debris of a flight crashed in the sea. The students have developed a prototype that can go 10 meters deep into water to perform assigned tasks.

Equipped with powerful sensors and cameras, Kraken 3.0 can conduct underwater surveillance. It also has the potential to repair underwater pipes. The robot can rotate itself in about five directions and is capable of taking its own decisions. The AUV can also be programmed to identify lost objects or debris and even picking up items, as well as can be engineered to perform repairs under the hull of a ship.